Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Here’s a question that has been on my mind for a really long time, but I keep forgetting to write you. The problem comes up every time I am at the beauty salon or standing in the hair care department at a drugstore or Target. Is it better to stick with only one brand of hair products? Are they formulated to work best when used together? For instance, should I buy the same brand of shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, deep conditioner, mousse, serum and spray? Or can I mix and match?

— PeeDee

Dear PeeDee: Hair care companies definitely want you think it’s crucial to stick with one brand and only one. Theirs. But don’t.

We all need to experiment to see what works best for us. Every single person’s hair is different. My sisters and one sister-in-law have curly hair, but the products I like best don’t always work the same way on their curls. And they swear by an array of different products that I’ve tried and found useless. I wish I had a dollar for every magical hair solution I’ve tried at their recommendation only to be let down by the results.

To make it even more complicated, our hair changes how it responds to various products depending on — where to start? — weather, geography, hormones, pregnancy, age, diet. So stuff that worked great when we’re 25 is a flop at age 40. And, don’t get me started on the products I have come to love that are discontinued without notice.

Forget about brand loyalty. Trade the products you don’t like with your friends and relatives, and keep experimenting.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Mother’s Day is coming, and I dread it. First of all, I have to share it every year at a brunch with my mother-in-law. My husband is very attentive to his mom with a card, flowers and a gift (which I usually pick out and wrap for him). But for me? Well, he says I’m not his mother, so this day doesn’t apply to our relationship. I counter that I’m the mother of his children (they’re too young to pay attention to Mother’s Day right now), and that’s why he should make the day special for me too. Who is right? And if you agree with me, do you think I deserve special attention that doesn’t involve his mother?

— Don’t Use My Name, Please

Dear No Name: Listen carefully: Do not get between your husband and his mom. Slap a big smile on your face, and just suck it up.

How about this? Lead by example. Show you’re a good sport, and change the dynamic by buying her a “To My Mother-in-Law” card. I agree that being the mother of his children absolutely is a good reason for your spouse to shower you with attention on this day, but it ain’t gonna happen. I’m hoping your kids will, as they grow older, show their love for you and their grandma on this special day.

You could be churlish and tell your husband that Father’s Day is coming up and the same argument can be made: He’s not your father. But, why don’t you two call a truce? Get past the resentment, and agree to exchange cards on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day — or better yet, each of you can write a personal note about what your spouse means to you. Isn’t that a lot more meaningful than eggs Benedict and unlimited mimosas?

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I currently wear a size 12 or 14 in pants. I am trying to purchase the equivalent of Dockers for women and can't find them anywhere.

I do not like the cropped pants look. In my office, we can be business casual, and I just want a normal pair of decent-quality khakis or something similar in a few colors. The pants that I see are cropped, capris, jeggings, wide leg with some kind of decoration at the bottom of the leg, or floral. Yikes! Everyone does not look good in prints.

Men have it so easy in this business casual environment. Please tell me where I can get the khaki pants I want.

— Barbara H.

Dear Barbara: I won’t try to argue you out of khakis by suggesting you step it up a little and branch out from the machine-washable pants you want to wear to work. (Although a pair of well-fitting black trousers could serve you every bit as well as those khakis.) Anyhow, Dockers makes women’s pants. You can buy them online and at Macy’s, Kohl’s and elsewhere. Lands’ End (landsend.com) and L.L. Bean (llbean.com) also specialize in what you’re searching for.

As to your point that “Men have it so easy in this business casual environment”? I agree, but they all look the same, and that’s not much fun.

Finally: Thanks for steering clear of capris. They look awful on virtually everyone. Also awful: the cropped above-the-ankle wide-leg pants that are now in style.

Angelic readers

Readers were eager to come to the rescue of Christopher D., who has standard size pillows and doesn’t like that sheet sets for his king bed come only with king size pillowcases.

Fran F. writes, “I solved this problem very simply. I measured the standard cases, turned the king pillowcase inside out and ran a line of stitching at the measurement line down the closed short end of the pillowcase, then cut off the excess. It's now a standard size that will fit my pillows.”

Kathy K. agrees, adding, “If you don't have a sewing machine, ask a friend to do it, or take it to your dry cleaner/tailor. Or you could try iron-on hemming tape. Also, Bed Bath & Beyond has a huge variety of colors and even a couple of patterns of two-pack standard pillowcases, so you can buy coordinating ones if you have more than two pillows. Voila!”